Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
He didn’t like Peggy, but the Saunders family’s wedding couldn’t look cheap.
Only then would the wealthy elites of Beijing believe in the Saunders family’s status-and only then would he have the clout to attract sponsors.
Yunice had agreed to cover the wedding venue and banquet costs. And the venue she’d chosen-Sea Blossom Hall-was one of the most prestigious in the capital.
Given that she was footing the bill, Owen decided to forgive her-for now.
In the kitchen, Elsie carried two plates of mashed potatoes. One of them was laced with a heavy dose of emergency contraceptive powder.
It had been meant for Peggy.
But now…
Elsie cast a venomous look at Yunice, who sat there like an honored guest, calm and composed.
Then she stepped out and placed the two plates in front of Yunice and Peggy.
Lily took her seat too. Head down, hands in her lap, she looked like the picture of obedience.
Peggy didn’t spare her a glance. As soon as the food was served, she started serving Yunice’s plate with enthusiasm. “Why didn’t your husband come with you? Never mind-do you have any pictures? Even a wedding photo would do!”
She was dying to know who Yunice’s husband was. The whole Saunders family got so weirdly upset every time she asked-it had to be someone big.
Yunice didn’t have a single photo with Wyatt.
And even if she did, she wouldn’t show Peggy.
As Peggy kept chattering away, a fork silently appeared from across the table, placing a chicken leg onto Yunice’s plate.
Peggy’s smile froze. She followed the fork with her eyes-to Lily.
Lily had slipped Yunice a blazing hot pepper chicken leg.
Owen’s expression tightened. Elsie looked smug, ready for a show.
Everyone in the Saunders family knew Yunice couldn’t handle spicy food-not since she got out of the psych ward.
Lily was clearly trying to start something.
Owen shot Lily a look, then quickly took the chicken leg out of Yunice’s plate with his fork and dropped it onto his own.
Peggy frowned, giving Owen a look like he’d lost his mind. “There’s plenty on the table. Why do you have to eat that one?”
Lily jumped in sweetly, “Exactly, Owen. Why fight your sister for food? If you like it, I’ll get you another.” And she did. She gave Owen another chicken leg-then casually dropped another one into Yunice’s plate. Owen’s face darkened. He clenched his fork, fuming. Can this house go one day without drama?
As she sat, Lily cast Yunice a sly glance.
Owen didn’t want to cause a scene in front of Peggy, so instead of arguing, he stubbornly took the chicken leg from Yunice’s plate again.
Lily doubled down-each time he took it away, she gave Yunice another.
So Yunice’s plate always had a greasy, bright red chicken leg sitting in it.
After several rounds of this, Peggy suddenly jabbed her fork into the chicken leg in Yunice’s plate, stopping Owen from removing it.
Her eyes flicked between him and Yunice as she snapped, “What’s the deal-Yunice can’t even have a chicken leg in her own house?”
She thought the family was ganging up on Yunice, denying her food on purpose.
Before Owen could find a way to explain, Lily spoke up gently. “Owen, don’t keep eating after your sister. If someone sees that, they might say you two have… no boundaries.”
Peggy blinked, then turned to stare at Lily.
Lily bowed her head, looking utterly ashamed, as if she’d just said something unspeakably embarrassing.
Peggy slowly turned toward Owen and Yunice with a look of pure disgust. Don’t tell me these two…
So that’s why Owen never dated or got married? He’d been messing around close to home all this time?
Owen’s face went crimson. He slammed his fork down. “Mom! What the hell are you talking about?!”
Lily immediately dropped her head. “I won’t say another word.”
The way she said it only made it sound more like she was telling the truth.
Peggy looked like she’d just swallowed a plate of flies. She instantly yanked her arm off the back of Yunice’s chair.
Suddenly, Yunice’s warning echoed in her mind-she had said Owen was still a virgin. But if he had a thing going with either of his sisters, how could that be true?
Owen had such ambiguous relationships with both of them. Who knew what disgusting things might have happened behind closed doors?
Maybe Yunice said that on purpose-to cover up Owen’s shameful secrets.
What if this whole setup-forcing Owen to marry her-was just to create a sham marriage? To make it look like Owen was normal to the outside world, while he kept his real relationships hidden at home?
Who would ever suspect anything with his own sisters?
From the side, Yunice watched the shift in Peggy’s expression with cold detachment and slowly stood up.
All eyes turned to her.
Without a word, Yunice reached out and picked up the plate of spicy chicken legs.
By now, all the chicken legs had been tossed into Owen’s bowl in the heat of petty conflict.
All that remained in the deep plate was a pool of bright red, oily chili broth.
As she stood, Owen called out, “Yunice, what are you doing? Sit down.”
Even though Lily had spewed something vile, Owen thought the effect wasn’t half bad. If it made Peggy squirm, a few nasty rumors were worth it.
Yunice held the plate and calmly stepped around behind Peggy and Elsie-until she stopped right in front of Lily.
Lily looked up in confusion, unsure of what Yunice was planning.
“Yunice, what did I say that was wrong? You’re married now, so you should be careful about how you act around your broth-“
Her words were cut short.
Yunice’s fingers were already clamped around Lily’s jaw.
She wasn’t strong, but she was precise. She knew how to dislocate a joint with finesse.
Crack.
Lily’s eyes filled with terror as her lower jaw unhinged. She couldn’t close her mouth no matter how hard she tried.
The shock and pain left her frozen, unable to react.
Yunice stood calmly, like someone who had done this more than once. Without emotion, she tipped the bowl forward and poured the thick, spicy broth into Lily’s gaping mouth.
She poured slowly, tilting her head slightly as she watched Lily struggle.